IAI Heron
| IAI Heron | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Unmanned aerial vehicle |
| National origin | Israel |
| Manufacturer | Israel Aerospace Industries |
| Variants | RQ-5 Hunter EADS Harfang IAI Eitan |
The IAI Heron (Machatz-1) is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle developed by the Malat (UAV) division of Israel Aerospace Industries. It is capable of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) operations of up to 52 hours' duration at up to 35,000 feet. It has demonstrated 52 hours of continuous flight, but the effective operational maximal flight duration is less, due to payload and flight profile. There is a new version, Heron TP, also known as IAI Eitan.
On September 11, 2005 it was announced [2] that the Israel Defence Forces purchased US$50 million worth of Heron systems. The IDF's designation of the Heron is Machatz-1.
Development
Heron navigates using an internal GPS receiver, and either a pre-programmed flight profile (in which case the system is fully autonomous from takeoff to landing), manual override from a ground control station, or a combination of both. It can autonomously return to base and land in case of lost communication with the ground station. The system has fully automatic launch and recovery (ALR) and all-weather capabilities.
Heron can carry an array of sensors, including infra-red and visible-light surveillance, intelligence systems (COMINT and ELINT) and various radar systems, totaling up to 250 kg (550 lb). Heron is also capable of target acquisition and artillery adjustment.
The payload sensors communicate with the ground control station in real-time, using either direct line of sight data link, or via an airborne/satellite relay. Like the navigation system, the payload can also be used in either a fully pre-programmed autonomous mode, or manual real-time remote operation, or a combination of both.
Operators
Apart from Israel, the countries which operate the Heron are India and Turkey.[1] France operates a derivative of Heron named Eagle or Harfang.[2] In 2008, Canada announced a plan to lease a Heron for use in Afghanistan, starting in 2009.[3] As of mid-2009, Australia is leasing two Herons as part of a multi-million dollar lease to operate the vehicles in Afghanistan.[4]
Variants
France
France operates a derivative of Heron named Harfang or Eagle.[5]
Turkey
Turkey operates a special version of the Heron, which utilizes Turkish designed and manufactured electro-optical sub-systems. Turkish Herons use the ASELSAN of Turkey designed and manufactured ASELFLIR-300T Airborne Thermal Imaging and Targeting System. This is the same FLIR system used by the AgustaWestland TAI T-129 Attack helicopter[3] and the TIHA UCAV. It's advantages include the following:
- High Resolution IR Detector with 576x7 Focal Plane Array
- Color TV Camera and a Color Spotter Camera
- Laser Rangefinder (LRF)
- Laser Target Designator (D)
- Laser Spot Tracker (LST)
- Advanced Image Processing Techniques
- 4-axes Gyroscopic Stabilization
- Multiple target tracking over both colour Day-TV and IR video
- MIL-STD-1553 / RS-422 communication interfaces
- Wide Field of View for Navigation Capability
- High resolution Spotter Camera that provides remote recognition / identification capability
- Automatic image processing modes, line of sight scan modes and target tracking modes and many other features that reduce ilotage/operator workload
- Isolated inner gymbals reduce the effects of linear vibration on sensor
IAI officials maintain that the Turkish Heron's "with its enhanced performance, is better than all existing Heron UAVs operating worldwide”[6].
List of Heron operators
Royal Australian Air Force - 2[7]
Brazilian Federal Police- 15 [8][9]
Canadian Forces - 3 on a lease contract for three years between 2008-2011[10]
Ecuadorian Air Force - 2 [11]
French Air Force - 4 EADS Harfang UAVs
Luftwaffe - 3 plus 2 ground stations on an initial one-year lease starting in 2010 [12][13]
Indian Air Force - 50[14][15]
Israeli Defence Force - 1+
Turkish Air Force - 10
United States Southern Command - 2 [16]
Specifications
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Data from {name of first source}
General characteristics
- Crew: None
Performance
- Endurance: 40+ hours
- Payload: 250 kg (550 lb)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- ^ Heron MALE System
- ^ Eagle MALE System
- ^ http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/07/helicopters-military.html
- ^ http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26041896-31477,00.html
- ^ Eagle MALE System
- ^ [1]
- ^ McLaughlin, Andrew (April 2010). "Nankeen. The RAAF enters the UAV era with Heron lease". Australian Aviation (No. 270). Fyshwick: Phantom Media: p. 31. ISSN 0813-0876.
{{cite journal}}:|issue=has extra text (help);|pages=has extra text (help) - ^ Defesanet (2009). "Exitosa Demonstração do VANT Heron no Brasil". Retrieved 2009-11-05.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Meranda, Amnon (2009). "Israel to supply Brazil with drones as part of $350M deal". Retrieved 2009-11-12.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ COPA Flight 8 (2009). "Canadian Forces Briefing on UAVs". Retrieved 2009-06-30.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Armada del Ecuador - ARMADA PRESENTÓ SU AVIONES NO TRIPULADOS –UAV- (spanish)
- ^ "Rheinmetall Defence and Israel Aerospace Industries to Provide ISR Services for German Armed Forces in Afghanistan". defpro. 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ^ http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/index.php?fid=5180&lang=2
- ^ http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/512-20022.aspx
- ^ http://us.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/06uav.htm?q=np&file=.htm
- ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/06/15/327986/paris-air-show-heron-sees-frontline-el-salvador-anti-drugs.html
External links
